In 1972, Yves Duteil had first minor hit with a song called "Virages" (English: "Turns"). Included on his 1974 debut album L'Écritoire, it shares fame with such songs as the title track and from his next album, "J'attends" (1976), "Tisserand", "Les Batignolles" (an area of Paris), etc.
His 1977 album "Tarentelle" which will become his most classic, including not only his most famous song ("Prendre Un Enfant") but also such songs as the title track, "Le Petit Pont de Bois", "Le Mur De La Prison D'En Face" which have all become classicss.
In 2001, Duteil released "Sans Attendre", more introspective than ever and with much modesty, he tackles some aspects of his life in a way that can bring a deep sight on life, understood in the light of spiritual love. In a simple way, he sings about friendship in tough times ("Les Gestes Délicats"), compassion for a father who never showed him that much affection, which never prevents Duteil to answer with love and sings all the kind words he found to his father, no matter what his childhood was like ("Lettre À Mon Père"). And probably the most touching song: "Pour Que Tu Ne Meures Pas", which deals with Yves Duteil's wife's disease.
Le mur de la prison d'en face
Yves Duteil Lyrics
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J'entends tous les ragots et les bruits des autos
Boulevard Arago qui passent
Sur les toits des maisons qui servent d'horizon
Un bout de la tour Montparnasse.
L'hiver, on voit les gens dans les maisons d'en face
L'йtй, les marronniers les cachent aux prisonniers
Quand l'йcole a fermй, combien ont dы penser
Au jour de la rentrйe des classes.
En regardant le mur, j'imagine а sa place
Les grillages ouvragйs d'un parc abandonnй
Explosant de rosiers, d'espace
Les grillages ouvragйs d'un parc abandonnй
Oщ les arbres emmкlйs s'enlacent.
En regardant le mur de la prison d'en face
Le cњur un peu serrй d'кtre du bon cфtй
Du cфtй des autos, je passe
Et du toit des maisons qui ferment l'horizon
Un morceau de la Tour dйpasse.
The song "Le mur de la prison d'en face" by Yves Duteil talks about the view from the songwriter's window, in which he sees the wall of a prison on the other side of the street. As he looks at the wall, he can hear the rumors and the sound of passing cars on Boulevard Arago. The rooftops of nearby houses serve as his only horizon, giving him a glimpse of the top of the Montparnasse Tower. The changing seasons also play a role in the songwriter's observations: during winter, he can see people inside the houses across the street; while in summer, the chestnut trees hide them from the prisoners.
Despite the prison being a somber sight, the songwriter imagines a world where the wall is replaced by ornate gates to an abandoned park, teeming with roses and trees entwined with each other. This vision contrasts with the reality of the plain concrete wall in front of him. The songwriter conveys his feelings of being on the right side of the wall, free to go about his life, while at the same time feeling slightly guilty about his own freedom.
Overall, the song is a reflection on how our surroundings and perspectives can shape our thoughts and attitudes towards life, freedom, and confinement.
Line by Line Meaning
En regardant le mur de la prison d'en face
As I gaze upon the wall of the prison across from me
J'entends tous les ragots et les bruits des autos
I hear all the gossip and car noises
Boulevard Arago qui passent
from Boulevard Arago as they go by
Sur les toits des maisons qui servent d'horizon
Over the rooftops of the houses, which serve as the horizon
Un bout de la tour Montparnasse.
A piece of the Montparnasse Tower.
L'hiver, on voit les gens dans les maisons d'en face
In the winter, one can see the people in the houses across the way
L'йtй, les marronniers les cachent aux prisonniers
In the summer, the chestnut trees hide them from the prisoners
Et les bruits du quartier s'effacent.
And the sounds of the neighborhood fade away.
Quand l'йcole a fermй, combien ont dы penser
When the school closed, how many must have thought
Au jour de la rentrйe des classes.
About the day of returning to class.
En regardant le mur, j'imagine а sa place
As I look at the wall, I imagine in its place
Les grillages ouvragйs d'un parc abandonnй
The ornate fences of an abandoned park
Explosant de rosiers, d'espace
Full of roses, and open space
Les grillages ouvragйs d'un parc abandonnй
The ornate fences of an abandoned park
Oщ les arbres emmкlйs s'enlacent.
Where tangled trees intertwine.
En regardant le mur de la prison d'en face
As I look at the wall of the prison across from me
Le cњur un peu serrй d'кtre du bon cфtй
My heart feels a little tight to be on the right side
Du cфtй des autos, je passe
On the side of the cars, I pass by
Et du toit des maisons qui ferment l'horizon
And from the rooftops of the houses that close off the horizon
Un morceau de la Tour dйpasse.
A piece of the tower protrudes.
Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.